Scottish Executive

Autism

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the research published recently in the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons , volume 9, number 3, by GS Goldman and FE Yazbak confirming a rise in autism in Denmark following the introduction of the MMR vaccine, what steps are being taken to reintroduce single vaccines as an alternative to the MMR vaccine in Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: The weight of evidence, from studies around the world, confirms that MMR remains the safest and most effective way to protect children against these serious diseases, mumps, measles and rubella.

  The Executive has no plans to change the current policy in relation to MMR vaccine, on which it is advised by the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.

Autism

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the recent publication of Spontaneous Mucosal Lymphocyte Cytokine Profiles in Children with Autism and Gastrointestinal Symptoms: Mucosal Immune Activation and Reduced Counter Regulatory Interleukin-10 by P Ashwood et al in the Journal of Clinical Immunology, Vol. 24, No. 6, November 2004, which reveals a breakthrough in identifying the source of damage to the immune system and intestine of children with regressive autism, what urgent action it will take to replicate this research and to examine and treat, where appropriate, autistic children who may have this condition.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The CSO is contributing £0.25 million to the £2.75 million which the Medical Research Council (MRC) has been given to take forward the research agenda set out in the MRC Review of Autism. As this agenda will encourage a programme of research across all aspects of autism, this is the appropriate vehicle for testing hypotheses about possible causes and treatment. For this reason, CSO has no plans to commission further research in this area.

Census

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many complaints the Registrar General for Scotland received from people over the age of 64 who did not wish their personal details to be published when the Scottish 1891 census was released in 1955.

Tavish Scott: There is no record of any such complaint having been received.

Census

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what costs will be involved in (a) digitising and (b) microfilming the 1901 Scottish census and what monthly revenue will be accrued from the sale of these products.

Tavish Scott: The enumerators’ books from the 1901 census for Scotland were microfilmed, digitally imaged and indexed between March 2000 and September 2001. The cost of (a) creating digital images of these records and indexing them was £210,980 and of (b) microfilming them was approximately £91,000.

  Considerable income is generated through making digital images available through the General Register Office for Scotland’s search rooms at New Register House and the www.scotlandspeople.gov.uk website. It is not, however, possible (or in the latter case would involve disproportionate effort) to separate the income generated by the sale of access to the images of the 1901 census from the income generated by the sale of access to digital images of other records (e.g. birth, death and marriage records) through the same outlets. Average monthly revenue from sales of microfilms of the 1901 census returns in the year October 2003 to October 2004 was £185.

Council Tax

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the most up-to-date statistical correlation is between households’ income levels and the council tax bands of the properties resided in by households.

Tavish Scott: The following table gives for each council tax band the estimated percentage of households in each household income band, based upon the latest data from 2001-02 and 2002-03. For example, an estimated 29% of households occupying a band A dwelling have a gross household income of £150 or less per week, excluding any council tax benefit income.

  The council tax band occupied by a household, however, does not equate directly to the council tax bill. Twenty percent of households in Scotland receive full council tax benefit and therefore pay no council tax from their gross income, and many others receive partial council tax benefit.

  Gross Household Income Excluding Council Tax Benefit (£ Per Week)

  

Council Tax Band
Up to 150
150 to 300
300 to 450
450 to 600
600 to 750
Over 750
Total


Band A
29
40
15
8
4
4
100


Band B
17
34
19
13
8
8
100


Band C
12
26
19
19
12
13
100


Band D
7
22
18
17
14
22
100


Band E
6
14
17
14
13
35
100


Band F
15
11
11
13
50
100


Band G & H
15
9
11
9
57
101



  Note: The percentage of households in each cell has been estimated using data from the Family Resources Survey aggregated over two years – 2001-02 to 2002-03. Where the sample size is insufficient to allow confident estimation, cells have been merged. The income figures reported are gross household income from all sources less any income received as council tax benefit. Percentages are reported to the nearest whole number and may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Care should be taken when comparing these figures with similar figures from previous years as they are based on small samples and subject to sampling variability.

Dentistry

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the location was of all the dental practices that were operating in (a) Fife and (b) Forth Valley during each financial year from 1999-2000 to 2003-04.

Rhona Brankin: This is a local matter and NHS Fife and Forth Valley would be in the best position to respond for their respective areas.

Dentistry

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance is being offered to NHS boards to enable them to recruit dentists from other countries in the European Union.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Executive currently does not offer specific assistance to boards aimed at recruiting dentists from abroad. We have, however, introduced allowances aimed at recruiting dentists to provide NHS general dental services and dentists from the European Union who meet the criteria can apply for these allowances.

Drug Misuse

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it will take to ensure that the new GP contract does not impact on services for drug addicts seeking access to drug rehabilitation services.

Hugh Henry: The new General Medical Services (GMS) contract is underpinned by a patient service guarantee which ensures that patients will continue to receive the services they need, although they may not be delivered in the same way. The Executive continues to monitor the introduction of the new GMS contract and will formally evaluate the initial impact.

Drug Misuse

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will evaluate the impact on the business of the drug court in Kirkcaldy of increased waiting times for drug addicts seeking access to rehabilitation services.

Hugh Henry: The drug court team is aware of pressure on the services and is in discussion with Fife Primary Care Trust to ensure that court business continues to be discharged efficiently.

Drug Misuse

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will liaise with NHS Forth Valley regarding the stability and sustainability of funding for drug rehabilitation services in its area.

Bruce Crawford (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will liaise with Fife Drug and Alcohol Action Team regarding the stability and sustainability of funding for drug rehabilitation services in its area.

Hugh Henry: Current funding levels for drug treatment and rehabilitation services will not be reduced. Indeed the Minister for Justice announced on 27 October that an additional £6 million per annum will be provided to support drug treatment and rehabilitation services from 2005-06. This will bring direct support for services to a total of £32.5 million per annum; an increase of 23% from 2004-05.

  In making this announcement Ms Jamieson stated that future resource allocations will be linked to the delivery of improved and more integrated services, increased numbers entering treatment and reduced waiting times.

  The Scottish Executive will work closely with local drug action teams to ascertain the best use of these additional resources to ensure real improvements to drugs services in line with Ms Jamieson’s comments.

Elderly People

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what consultation took place prior to the Minister for Communities calling on energy suppliers to cap annual bills at a maximum of £550 a year for elderly people on pension credit.

Malcolm Chisholm: We discussed the social tariff with Age Concern Scotland, Citizen’s Advice Scotland, Energy Action Scotland, energywatch and Help the Aged Scotland.

Employment

Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people are currently employed as seafarers in Scotland.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Labour Force Survey cannot provide estimates for the number of seafarers as the Standard Occupational Codes do not identify seafarers as a distinct group. Instead seafarers are mixed with occupations from agriculture. The Scottish Executive does publish figures on the number of people employed in sea fishing. At the end of 2003 there were 5,276 people employed in sea fishing in Scotland. This is the latest data available and is provided by the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency. Also data from the annual business inquiry employee analysis shows that in 2002, 1,800 people worked in sea and coastal water transport (Standard Industrial Classification 61.1).

Gambling

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will make representations to Her Majesty’s Government regarding the bingo industry and, in particular, in favour of equal treatment between the bingo industry and other elements of the gambling industry in respect of taxation to ensure that provisions in the UK Gambling Bill should not prejudice the interests of bingo clubs in Scotland, in light of the conclusions of the Gambling Review Report, that bingo is a safe and comfortable environment, particularly for women, and often has a place at the heart of the community.

Tavish Scott: Taxation of the gambling industry is a reserved matter, but I can advise that the provisions of the Gambling Bill do not include any proposals for the taxation of the gambling industry.

Gambling

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it will take, within its responsibilities, to protect and promote the bingo industry in Scotland.

Tavish Scott: Scottish ministers will have power to set regulations governing the conditions which Licensing Boards may attach to all bingo premises licences issued in Scotland. Ministers will also have power to set and vary licence fees for bingo premises.

  There are no plans at present to take any specific steps with regard to the protection and promotion of the bingo industry in Scotland.

Gambling

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment has been made of the contribution that the bingo industry makes to the economy.

Tavish Scott: We are not aware of any assessment of the contribution the bingo industry makes to the economy.

Gambling

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with representatives of, and businesses operating in, the bingo industry to discuss any concerns about the impact of the UK Gambling Bill on their businesses.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has had no discussions with representatives of, and businesses operating in, the bingo industry. However, the Bingo Association’s response to the Executive’s Consultation Paper Devolved Powers in the Draft Gambling Bill (Bib. number 33121) has been taken into consideration.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidelines on self-harm will be implemented and, if so, on what date.

Mr Andy Kerr: The National Institute for Clinical Excellence clinical guidelines are recommendations on the appropriate treatment of people with specific conditions within the NHS in England and Wales. They represent developmental standards which are expected to be achieved over time.

  We have issued these guidelines to a wide range of stakeholders, particularly those in the field of children and young people’s issues. The guidelines have no formal status in Scotland as the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network has the responsibility to produce clinical guidelines for NHSScotland. However, the guidelines are issued for information to assist relevant practitioners.

Health

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive from what date clinicians were advised that they can prescribe the anti-TNF drugs, etanercept and Infliximab, whenever it is clinically appropriate in an individual case.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Health Technology Board for Scotland (HTBS) (now part of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland) issued advice on the use of etanercept and infliximab on the following dates:

  17 May 2002 - Comment on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisal Guidance number 35 on the use of etanercept for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

  17 May 2002 - Comment on the NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance number 36 on the use of etanercept and infliximab for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

  28 June 2002 - Comment on the NICE Technology Appraisal Guidance number 40 on the use of infliximab for Crohn’s disease.

  The comments can be accessed at www.nhshealthquality.org.

  On 12 July 2004, the Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) issued advice to NHSScotland about the use of infliximab for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis in patients who have severe axial symptoms, elevated serological markers of inflammatory activity and who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy. On the same date, the SMC also advised on the use of etanercept for the treatment of active and progressive psoriatic arthritis in adults. The SMC advice can be accessed at www.scottishmedicines.org.

  In each case, the HTBS and the SMC advised that NHSScotland should take account of the advice and ensure that recommended drugs and treatments are made available to meet clinical need.

Health

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that elderly people receive good foot health and footwear advice in order to prevent foot and gait-related problems and in order to meet the NHS’s target of increasing the number of older people taking physical exercise.

Mr Andy Kerr: The planning and provision of NHS services including podiatry services is a matter for NHS boards in accordance with national and local priorities.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children aged 16 and under have a diagnosis of (a) spina bifida, (b) cerebral palsy, (c) Down’s syndrome and (d) leukaemia.

Mr Andy Kerr: Information on how many children under the age of 16 who have spina bifida is not held centrally. However, as the majority of patients diagnosed with spina bifida will receive hospital treatment, an estimate can be derived using hospital discharge information. The latest available information shows that in 2003 there were an estimated 362 children aged 16 or under in Scotland who had been discharged from hospital with a diagnosis of spina bifida.

  The number of children with cerebral palsy under the age of 16 is not held centrally. A new register is being rolled out at present, which will work alongside the special needs system, but is not yet sufficiently complete to furnish the required data.

  Information on the numbers of children under the age of 16 with Down’s syndrome is not held centrally. However, over the years 1995 to 1999 the average number of children born with Down’s syndrome was 69 per annum.

  The latest available national cancer registration records show that there were 380 children aged 16 or under in Scotland with leukaemia in 2001.

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio is between the number of whole-time equivalent (WTE) infection control nurses and the total number of beds, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: The numbers are detailed in the following table.

  As at 21 May 2004

  

NHS Board
Beds
ICNs (WTE)
Ratio (ICN:Beds)


NHS Argyll and Clyde
2,747
14.0
1:196


NHS Ayrshire and Arran
2,072
5.0
1:414


NHS Borders
628
3.0
1:209


NHS Dumfries and Galloway
787
3.0
1:262


NHS Fife
1,728
5.8
1:297


NHS Forth Valley
1,373
4.0
1:343


NHS Grampian
2,950
8.2
1:358


NHS Greater Glasgow
5,756
20.2
1:285


NHS Highland
1,283
6.4
1:200


NHS Lanarkshire
2,763
10.4
1:265


NHS Lothian
4,271
17.1
1:250


NHS Orkney
94
1.0
1:94


NHS Shetland
96
1.0
1:96


NHS Tayside
2,936
11.6
1:253


NHS Western Isles
228
1.2
1:190


Special NHS Boards
282
6.6
1:43

Hospital-Acquired Infection

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the ratio is between the number of whole-time equivalent infection control doctors and the total number of beds, broken down by NHS board.

Mr Andy Kerr: No doctors are employed solely as infection control doctors. Many doctors have infection control as a component of their job plan. Each NHS board, with the exception of NHS Orkney (which is in the process of making appropriate arrangements), has identified and has in post a doctor with overall responsibility for infection control. All boards have a number of doctors who are involved in infection control.

Livestock

John Farquhar Munro (Ross, Skye and Inverness West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what movement there was of female cattle from Crofters Commission farms from August 2003 to August 2004 showing, in each case, the (a) age of cattle, (b) criteria for sale, (c) final destination and (d) price received.

Lewis Macdonald: Details of sales of female cattle from the farms managed by the Crofters Commission between August 2003 and August 2004 are as follows:

  26 September 2003

  (a) 15 heifers (aged 2.5 to three years) with calves (aged to three months) at foot.

  (b) Normal practice. Heifers have been used to test bulls, sale with calves at foot sought to minimise additional cost and optimise return from what is a peripheral enterprise.

  (c) Sold through United Auctions, Perth.

  (d) Total Gross - £21,180: Net - £20,308.97.

  7 October 2003

  (a) 26 heifers (aged 2.5 to three years) with calves (aged to three months) at foot.

  (b) Normal practice. Heifers have been used to test bulls, sale with calves at foot sought to minimise additional cost and optimise return from what is a peripheral enterprise.

  (c) Sold through Thainstone Mart.

  (d) Total Gross £29,600: Net £28,477.23.

  27 October 2003

  (a) 22 heifers (aged 2.5 to three years) with calves (aged to three months) at foot.

  (b) Normal practice. Heifers have been used to test bulls, sale with calves at foot sought to minimise additional cost and optimise return from what is a peripheral enterprise.

  (c) Sold through Dingwall Mart.

  (d) Total Gross £25,710: Net £24,652.68.

  12 November 2003

  (a) 19 heifers, home bred aged approximately 12 months.

  (b) Rationalisation of non core farming activity in light of implementation of Farm Business Plan and Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department Internal Audit recommendations.

  (c) Sold through Dingwall Mart.

  (d) Total Gross £7,255.

  18 November 2003

  (a) 15 cull cows under Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS). All aged or poor condition.

  (b) Normal farming practice.

  (c) Incinerated under OTMS.

  (d) Total Gross £3,951.53: Net £3,484.04

  25 November 2003

  (a) Five cull cows under Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS). All aged or poor condition.

  (b) Normal farming practice.

  (c) Incinerated under OTMS.

  (d) Total Gross £1,467.04.

  2 December 2003

  (a) 11 Cull cows under Over Thirty Months Scheme (OTMS). All aged or poor condition.

  (b) Normal farming practice.

  (c) Incinerated under OTMS.

  (d) Total Gross £3,194.39: Net £2,851.88.

  25 March 2004

  (a) Two heifers.

  (b) Barren, unsuitable for breeding.

  (c) Highland and Island Livestock Ltd.

  (d) Total Gross £1,234.00: Net £1,165.54.

  31 March 04

  (a) One heifer.

  (b) Barren, unsuitable for breeding.

  (c) Scotch Premier Meat.

  (d) Net £684.03.

  16 April 04

  (a) Seven heifers.

  (b) Barren, over 30 months.

  (c) Highland and Island Livestock Ltd.

  (d) Total Gross £2,319.93: Net £2,117.59.

  19 May 04

  (a) One heifer.

  (b) Late calf, unsuitable for breeding.

  (c) Highland and Island Livestock Ltd.

  (d) £350.00.

  20 May 04

  (a) Three heifers.

  (b) Barren, unsuitable for breeding.

  (c) Highland and Island Livestock Ltd.

  (d) Total Gross £1,833.04: Net £1,730.36.

Meat Industry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what impact any relaxation of import restrictions to the European Union from the Mercosul countries would have on the Scottish beef sector and what economic appraisal it has carried out to assess such an impact.

Ross Finnie: Further trade liberalisation will increase the competitive pressure upon the Scottish beef sector. Economists in interested departments of the UK Government and the devolved administrations, including representatives from Scottish Executive Environment and Rural Affairs Department, are considering the impact of future changes – including those in relation to trading conditions. The results of any further work will be put on the Executive website.

Meat Industry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is aware of any incentives being offered by supermarkets to beef processors to supply South American beef and, if so, what steps it is taking to protect the Scottish beef sector.

Ross Finnie: We are not aware of incentives being offered. Beef procurement policy is a commercial decision for individual supermarkets.

Meat Industry

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends that Scotland should maintain a food supply base and, if so, what steps it will take, either by itself or through Quality Meat Scotland or other bodies, to protect and promote the Scottish beef sector.

Ross Finnie: The maintenance of the food supply base in Scotland is a key objective of A Forward Strategy for Scottish Agriculture . The food processing sector has and will continue to receive support under the Agriculture Processing and Marketing Grant Scheme. Since 2001, this sector has benefited from some £20 million assistance which has triggered investment in excess of £200 million.

  The Executive is fully committed to the Scottish beef sector. We will continue to work with organisations such as Quality Meat Scotland to help in the promotion of the red meat sector. Joint activity in securing the Protected Geographical Indication for both beef and lamb has ensured greater flexibility for Scotland in respect of state aid restriction on promotional activity.

Medical Research

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Medical Research Council regarding its work in Scotland.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive has frequent discussions with the Medical Research Council (MRC) regarding its work in Scotland. For example, the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Executive Health Department sits on the MRC’s Health Services Research and Public Health Board and contributes to the reviews of MRC Units based in Scotland. At a strategic level, the UK Health Departments operate under a Concordat arrangement with the MRC to ensure that their roles are complementary, and have recently established a joint MRC/Health Departments Health Delivery Group to develop agreed policies and shared research activities.

Medical Research

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what support it gives to stem cell research.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO) within the Scottish Executive Health Department has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health services and patient care within the NHS in Scotland and, as such, is the main Departmental funder of NHS-related research. The CSO is currently funding three projects relating to stem cell research to a total value of £401,000.

Nursing

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give a breakdown of the destination details of all nursing graduates for each of the last three years.

Mr Andy Kerr: The first destination details of newly qualified nurses and midwives completing a three year diploma course are presented in the attached table for each of the years 2001, 2002 and 2003. This information covers the majority of nursing graduates. Information on newly qualified nurses and midwives completing other courses is not available centrally.

  First Destination for Newly Qualified Nurses and Midwives Completing a Diploma Course

  

 
2001
2002
2003


Total Number of New Qualifiers
1,951
2,185
2,274


NHSScotland
1,440
1,682
1,639


Independent Sector (Scotland)
101
74
108


Seeking Employment as Nurse
165
187
185


Further education - nursing
39
26
104


Further education - other
5
3
16


Leaving Scotland
168
164
160


Not Pursuing Nursing Career
19
24
50


Other
15
24
12



  Source: ISD Scotland.

Planning

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what procedures should be followed by local authorities where a company has engaged in opencast mining activities without appropriate planning permission and what penalties should be imposed.

Johann Lamont: Planning authorities have a range of discretionary powers to deal with breaches of planning control. If unauthorised mining is taking place, it would be for the authority to decide, based on the severity of the breach, whether to invite the company to apply for retrospective consent, or whether to take enforcement action. If the unauthorised activity is causing serious harm to public amenity the authority can serve a stop notice or apply to the courts for an interdict to stop the unauthorised activity immediately. If that action fails, the authority can take the case to the courts and it is then for the courts to decide, on conviction for an offence, whether and what penalties should be imposed.

Public Transport

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will recommend to Strathclyde Passenger Transport that alternative proposals put forward by Mr Simon Wallwork should be added to the Glasgow Airport Rail Link consultation paper.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive supports the preferred option upon which Strathclyde Passenger Transport are currently consulting. Mr Wallwork’s proposal has been carefully considered previously.

Public Transport

David Mundell (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive when new trains with improved acceleration, suitable for use on services via the proposed station at Edinburgh Airport, will enter service.

Nicol Stephen: Options for the procurement of rolling stock are being assessed by the Scottish Executive. We are working to ensure that appropriate rolling stock is in place before the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link opens.

Road Accidents

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the findings of EuroRAP 2004 British Results that the A82, A889 and A99 are "high risk", whether it accepts that further engineering measures aimed at cutting accidents on these roads are required.

Nicol Stephen: The annual accident analysis of the trunk road network is currently underway and the analysis will identify a prioritised list of sites for accident investigation and remedial action which will be used to develop a programme of work for 2005-06. The A82, A889 and the A99 are included in this exercise.

  As part of the 2004-05 programme, village gateway projects have been completed on the A99 at Latheron, Lybster, Thrumster and Wick as well on the A889 at Dalwhinnie.

  Accident investigation studies have also been completed for both the A82 between Tyndrum and Inverness and the A889 between Dalwhinnie and Catlodge. The reports are under consideration and any agreed works will be carried out.

  In addition, a route action plan has been commissioned which will identify measures to improve road safety and reduce journey times between Tarbet and Fort William.

Sheltered Housing

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many very sheltered housing dwellings there were in (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01, (d) 2001-02, (e) 2002-03 and (f) 2003-04 and how many it estimates that there will be by the end of 2004-05, broken down by local authority.

Malcolm Chisholm: The table gives the number of very sheltered local authority, Scottish Homes and housing association dwellings at 31 March each year from 1999 to 2003, the latest date for which full information is available, and on the number of local authority very sheltered dwellings at 31 March 2004. Information is not held centrally on sheltered accommodation provided by the private sector.

  The Scottish Executive does not compile estimates of future provision of very sheltered housing. Communities Scotland investment programme for 2004-05 includes a planned output of some 1,100 dwellings to meet particular needs of which on average around 5-10% will be sheltered/very sheltered supported units.

  Very Sheltered Housing Provided by Local Authorities, Scottish Homes and Housing Associations

  

 
Provided by Local Authorities, Scottish Homes and Housing Associations
Provided by Local Authorities


1998-99
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Scotland
1,389
1,689
1,822
2,023
2,787
230


Aberdeen City
94
95
86
86
126
76


Aberdeenshire
50
50
74
95
97
20


Angus
0
27
27
44
48
0


Argyll and Bute
29
29
29
29
194
0


Clackmannanshire
88
88
9
22
27
0


Dumfries and Galloway
0
87
18
30
36
10


Dundee City
128
162
129
156
196
60


East Ayrshire
0
21
15
31
56
0


East Dunbartonshire
0
0
16
16
16
0


East Lothian
28
28
41
30
30
0


East Renfrewshire
41
41
42
49
54
0


Edinburgh, City of
109
109
250
253
193
0


Eilean Siar
0
0
0
10
32
0


Falkirk
47
47
98
104
101
27


Fife
83
88
89
90
183
0


Glasgow City
194
203
216
266
497
n/a


Highland
6
10
105
11
24
0


Inverclyde
39
39
36
39
39
0


Midlothian
35
35
26
27
39
0


Moray
32
56
28
31
56
0


North Ayrshire
25
25
25
25
32
0


North Lanarkshire
39
44
41
68
70
0


Orkney Islands
0
0
8
8
3
4


Perth and Kinross
79
115
68
65
95
0


Renfrewshire
30
46
40
46
46
0


Scottish Borders, The
69
67
44
60
88
n/a


Shetland Islands
25
25
25
25
28
25


South Ayrshire
8
8
20
18
9
0


South Lanarkshire
19
60
68
101
106
0


Stirling
20
20
21
21
21
0


West Dunbartonshire
25
34
34
36
90
0


West Lothian
47
30
94
131
155
8



  Source: S1B returns from councils to the Scottish Executive, and housing association data supplied by Communities Scotland.

Sheltered Housing

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many sheltered housing complexes were built by local authorities in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The table gives the total number of houses built by local authorities since 1999 for different categories of special needs housing.

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003


Sheltered housing for elderly 
46
0
30
0
0


Sheltered wheelchair housing
0
0
18
27
53


Shared housing
1
2
0
0
0



  Source: NB1 statistical returns by councils to the Scottish Executive.

Sheltered Housing

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new sheltered housing complexes were built by (a) social landlords other than local authorities and (b) private developers, broken down by local authority area, in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: The following tables show respectively (a) the number of supported residential units built by housing associations in each year and (b) the number of private sector dwellings built for special needs in each local authority area since 1999. The footnotes to the tables explain the sources of the information and the definitions used.

  (a) Number of Supported Residential Units Built by Housing Associations

  

Unitary Authority
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Aberdeenshire
14
0
0
0
0


Angus
16
0
0
0
16


Argyll and Bute
0
0
0
0
1


City of Dundee
0
30
35
0
0


City of Edinburgh
33
0
11
11
0


City of Glasgow
14
61
51
30
0


Clackmannanshire
0
0
0
3
0


Dumfries and Galloway
10
0
30
0
0


East Ayrshire
0
0
10
0
0


East Dunbartonshire
2
0
0
0
4


East Lothian
26
0
0
0
0


Falkirk
8
0
0
0
0


Fife
15
0
3
0
0


Inverclyde
0
0
0
0
8


Moray
0
0
0
25
0


North Ayrshire
0
0
0
25
24


North Lanarkshire
30
5
5
3
1


Perth and Kinross
1
0
2
4
0


Renfrewshire
24
0
0
19
0


Shetland
2
0
0
0
0


South Ayrshire
3
0
0
0
0


South Lanarkshire
0
0
0
10
2


The Scottish Borders
0
2
0
0
0


West Dunbartonshire
12
1
0
8
0


West Lothian
0
7
0
0
0


Total
210
106
147
138
56



  Source: Communities Scotland. Supported residential units include supported units designed specifically for older people, those designed for wheelchair use and other supported accommodation.

  (b) Private Sector Dwellings Built for Special Needs

  

 
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003


Aberdeenshire
0
0
8
0
0


Argyll and Bute
0
0
0
1
0


East Ayrshire
0
5
8
0
0


Edinburgh (City of)
0
0
0
6
20


Inverclyde
0
0
5
64
195


West Dunbartonshire
0
0
0
0
1


West Lothian
0
0
30
0
0


Total
0
5
51
71
216



  Source: NB2 statistical returns by councils to the Scottish Executive. Housing for special needs in this analysis includes sheltered housing, wheelchair housing and sheltered wheelchair housing.

Sheltered Housing

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many properties were converted into sheltered housing complexes by (a) social landlords other than local authorities and (b) private developers, broken down by local authority area, in each year since 1999.

Malcolm Chisholm: No information is held centrally on properties converted by private developers into sheltered housing. The table shows the number of supported residential units completed by housing associations through the rehabilitation of existing properties. The footnotes to the table explain the source and coverage of the information.

  

Unitary Authority
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


City of Edinburgh
1
3
 0
 0
5


City of Glasgow
8
8
5
 0
 0


East Dunbartonshire
4
 0
 0
 0
 0


Moray
4
 0
 0
0
 0


North Lanarkshire
0 
4
 0
 0
 0


Renfrewshire
 0
 0
4
 0
 0


The Scottish Borders
16
 0
 0
 0
 0


Total
33
15
9
0
5



  Source: Communities Scotland. Supported residential units include supported units designed specifically for older people, those designed for wheelchair use and other supported accommodation.

Young People

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to identify the employment, education or training status of youngsters for whom it does not have such information and, once identified, what assistance it offers those who are not engaged in any of these activities.

Allan Wilson: Reducing the proportion of 16 to 19-year-olds NEET (not in education, employment or training) is a priority for the Executive. Career Scotland (CS) has a key role both in identifying this group and promoting their employability. Career Scotland provides the Scottish Executive with information each year on the destinations of pupils leaving publicly funded schools. Where their destination is unknown, CS staff follow up young people through various means to provide them with information and advice on the opportunities available. Priority is given to those young people "at risk" of being "NEET" long-term. If appropriate, CS can provide one to one support through key workers who work in partnership with other agencies to ensure that their particular needs are addressed.